Filter



P. MEURA FILTER Filed Nov zo, 195:5

Feb. 23, 1937.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATESA mma Paul Meara, Tournai, BelgiumAppncauon November' zo, 1933, serial No', 698,869

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a filter, and has particular -relation tothat. type of lter which is specially adapted for use in breweries, anddistilleries.

4An object of the invention is toprovide, in a filterpf this character,a filtering chamber havinga series of hollowframes for containing thebrew grain, and of a novel construction hereinafter more particularlydescribed and arranged alternately with the hollow frames a series 'ofgrate' frames-of novel construction and having a fabric covering wherebythe wort may be ef ciently filtered from the brew grain.

Anotherobject'of the4 inventionresides in a novel arrangement forWashing the brew lgrain so as to obtain all of the wort therefrom, whena batch of mash has been run, preparatory to the discharge of the brewgrain'from the chamber,

I so that the lter may be prepared for another run of mash.

Another object of the invention resides in novel means for controllingthe discharge of air from said chamber and for determining the course ofcirculation of the water therethrough at the end ofarunofmash. I Withthe above and other objects in view, whichwill be more accurately,disclosed hereinafter, theainvention has particular relation to certainnovel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, anexample of which isgiven in this specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein.

Figure 1 shows a front elevation Vof the filter. Figure 42 shows afragmentary .side view thereof.

Figure 3 shows an elevational view of one of the grate frames employed.

Figure 4 shows a sectionalview thereof taken on the line 4-4 of Figure3:

'Figure 5 shows an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken onthe line`55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one of the grate'vframes.

Figure 7 shows an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on theline 'I--1 `of Figure 3.

Figure 8 show's an enlarged fragmentary verti cal sectional view takenon theline 8-8 of Figure 1.

` Figure 9 shows an elevational view of a hollow frame employed.

l Figure 10 shows an enlarged fragmentary cross SctiOn'al v iew thereoftaken II-II of Figure 9, and

' able annular side side as at 26- for lightness.

(cl. 21o-18s) nate thesame parts in each of the figures, the numerals I,I designate the side members. of the supporting framework which are'shown as I- beams and which are supported'by the'legs 2 on -a suitablefoundation.

Between and supported by the I-beams are the hollow frames and the-grateframes 3 and 4 which are alternately arranged. These frames 3 and 4 havethe side arms 5, 5, whose under sides have the runners 6, 6 whichareslidable along the when the frames are assembled forming an inlet 4 pipefor the inlet of the mash to be filtered. 'I'he joints between theseheads are packed by suitable packing as I0. A supply pipe II enters theinletl pipe at Vone end leading from the vat and controlled vbythe valveI2, and through this supply pipe the mash lmay be supplied to said inletpipe. Leading from the other end of the inlet pipe there is a reliefline I3 which is controlled by the-valve vI4 through which the air mayberelieved from theinlet pipe as required so as to prevent trapping ofsaid air.

r The heads 8 have lthe downwardly diverging channels I5, I5 leadingtherefrom through which the mash may enter the hollow frames 3. 'I'hegrate frames have, at each corner, .or angle, the tubular upper headsI6, I1 and tubular lower heads I8, I 9 which align when the frames areassembled forming the upper channels 20, 2| and the lower channels 22,23. The joints between theseheads I6, I1.' I8 and I9 are broken by suit-Y packing s 241:0 make said joints fluid tight. i y

Each hollow frame consists merely of'a rectangular frame work as moreclearly illustrated in Figure 11 and the lower transverse bar at eachwhich terminate in the apex 25. These frames are formed of metal and arechanneled on each 'Ihe joints between the hollow frames and the grateframes are broken by packing 21 'which extends entirely around saidhollow frames on each side, so as to `form'iluid tight joints.

When the frames are assembled 'as shown in Figure 2, with the chamberends 28', 28l arranged at each end ofthe frame assembly,'the frames maybe clamped-closely together by means of the clamp bracket 28 carried byoneof' the ends 28', which last mentioned lend 28' may be drawn closelyagainst the adjacent frame by means of the tension rods 29. These rodshave threaded connections with said bracket 28 at the respective ends ofthe bracket and are arranged on opposite 5 29 to thereby move the clamp28 into clamping position or'into released position to move thecorresponding chamber' end 23' away from the frame assembly.4 The otherend 23 is fixed in position.

Each grate frame is of special construction as more accurately shown inFigures 4J and 5. They have the relatively narrow vertical ribs 32,spaced apart. The ribs 32 are correspondingly notched at their upper andlower ends on one side to engage the tenons 34, 35, carried by the upperand lower side bars of the framework,iand have suincient end play topermit their ready removal and insertion and the ribs 33 at their endsare notched reversely,l with respect to the notching of the ribs 32 andengage the upper and lower tenons 36. 3T. These ribs 32, 33 aresuitablyanchored together by the cross bars 33 and when so anchored the ribassembly may be readily inserted into the framework, and when soinserted will be maintained in said surrounding framework by said upperand lower tenons. Each grate frame is envel'oped on each side by .asuitable fabric 39 which is folded so as to be supported by the top ofthe itxame and to hang down on-each side and the margins of the fabricare clamped between the frames of the assembly. j

The b t 23 employed for clamping the frame assembly ether and yforreleasing the frame as-l sembly is attached to the adjacent end 23'which is of considerable weight and said `bracket is con- V sequentlysupported at' each end bythe supporting wheels '43, 4l, which run on'thecorresponding 'I-beams I.

The mash enters, as hereinabove indicated, the

I 40 hollow-frames 3 through the channels 5 and fills said frames andthe wort nlters through the fabric 39 into the grate frames, the ribs ofsaid last mentioned frames supporting saidfabric.

lLeading out from the bottom of `eachof the grateframes there is a duct4I.. These ducts, of

alternate grate frames, maybe controlled by twoway valves 42,\l2,respectively. When the valves are turned into one position, they permitthe wort to now from the grateframe, through the corre- 'spendingfaucets 43, 53 into the tank 44 beneath and when said valves are turnedinto another position Vthe duct 4i is connected back into the channel22, as illustrated in Figure 3 and`the wort vmay now .back i'ntotheupleg of the siphon pipe 45. Both endsof vthis siphonplpe are arrangedso` the' tank 44"but ifturned into another position.

the wort rise through the upleg of the siphonv 'liconespondingfaucetsQI, 55 and to connect to discharge into the tank 44, and the upleg Ythereof is controlled by avalve 43.- If this last mentioned valve istm'ned into one-positionfthev -wort will be directly downwardly intopipe as we as in the filtering chamber and will eventually Voverow intothe down leg 41 and thence into the tank 44. 'I'he valves' 42, l2 may;'b to a third position to close 1,- spending outlet duct `4-|.

the corree123 is connected into the upper endl ofthe siphon pipe 43 bythe valve controlled pipe 43, and thesiphon pipe has the vent 45'.ff-Leading out from the upper ends of the 'grate 'Ihese valves Il, I4maybe turned open the ,frames are the ducts 43 which continue back intothe channels 2l and these ducts of alternate frames are controlled bythe two way valves 50, 54.

Saidv grate frames directly into the channel 20 to relievethe air oroverflow from the grate frames;

or .the valves 50, and/or 54 may be turned to completely close the ducts4 9. l

In the process of brewing it is obvious that the brew, grain willcollect in and gradually fill the open frames and the wort will iilterthrough the fabric into the grate frames and during the normal filteringprocess the valves 42, 62 are turned so that the wort will pass into thechannel 22 l and thence into the up leg of the siphon pipe and cult towash through the brew grain when it becomes necessary to. wash it out.

At the end of a rumthat is, when all of the wort which will drain outhasbeen filtered from the mash, of a batch of mash, it is desirable toadmit water into the filtering chamber in order to recover the remainingwort that maystill re- -main in the brew grain. Water may be admittedthrough a main water pipe 5B which branches to either the upper channel2l or the lower channel 23 and said branches are controlled by thevalves 51, 51. 'I'he channels 2l are connected into the upper portionsof alternate grate frames and the lower channel 23 is connected into'theo ther grate frames at the bottom. If the water is admitted through the.channel 2|, the faucets at the both I ends of said grate qframes,connected with the channel 2 I, are closed and the water entering thetop of the grate frames must pass through' the hollow frames betweenthem, passing throughthe brew grain therein and -into the grateframes,between said last mentionedfhollow frames, loaded with the wort and thengoes on out through the open faucets of said last mentioned grate framesat the bottom. I'hese faucets may be turned inv such a way as to permit'drainage-into the tank 44 beneath or into the channel 22, and thence byway of the siphon pipe 45 into-said tank.

Ifit be desired to wash from beneath, the water may be 'admitted intothel channel 23 and the. faucets 43, il, closed and the faucets 53, Il,

opened, -a'nd if the lliquid in the-filtering cham ber rises high enoughto overflow the excess will pass .through pipe 43 into the siphon pipe..In

other vwordswhen washing from above the faucets 43, '5l 4areopenrand'the faucets 83, Il are closed but when washing from beneath thereverse is true. u

thsnltrationprocess all of the faucets ofthe grate frames are openeither to permit the wort yto drain directly into the tank 44or topermit thewort-to iiow -indirectlyeinto the channel 22 and thence'tosiphon pipe. .During this 01:--l

eration all air `faucets are open.

" When the flltering process 'hasbeen completed vit is, 'of coursenecessary to remove the brew l .grain and `to cleanse the hollow framesas well as -the fabric. In order to accomplish this therods or shafts23Iare turned in the reverse direction and theclampbracket .23and acorresponding .chambervedn' are moved outwardly thus permitting theframes to -be moved apart whereupon the brew grain will fall.voluntarilyout of thel lection of brew erainv on these bars but permitssaid grain to readily fall out. 'I'he fabric may be then easily liftedoil of the grate frames and washed for re-use and thereupon the frameassembly may be reassembled and the frames clamped in original positionbetween the'ends 28', 28 in readiness for another ltering process.

The drawings and description disclose what isA nowfconsidered to be apreferred form of the invention by way of illustration only while thebroad principle of the invention will be dened by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A filter having a filtering chamber provided with ends and a seriesof hollow frames and grate frames alternately arranged, said ends andframes enclosing the chamber, filtering means enveloping the grateframes, means fordelivering mash intothe hollow frames from above, saidilter having an upper water channel connected into the upper ends ofsome of the grate frames. the lower ends of the grate frames havingcorrtrolled outlets, there being a lower channel into which the outletsare connected. an upstanding siphon'pipe having an upleg and a downlegwith the former of which said channel'is connected,' the upper end ofsaid lower siphon pipe having `a vent and having'a valve controlledconnection with the upper water channel and a valve controlling theconnection between the Siphon and lower channel.

2. A filter having a series of hollow frames and grate frames andprovided with ends, said ends; and frames enclosing a filtering chamber,filtering fabric between the hollow frames and grate frames, means fordelivering mash into the hollow frames, a siph'on pipe having an airvent at its upper end, upper and lower water channels, the upper channelbeing connected into some of the grate frames at their upper ends, thelower channel being connected into other of the grate frames at theirlower ends, said grate frames having upper and lower outlets, and therebeing channels through which said outlets may be connected into thesiphon pipe, valves controlling said channels, the valve which controlsthe lowerl channel controlling the connection of the siphon with saidlower channel, faucets for controlling said outlets and whereby outletsfor the outflow of liquid from the chamber may be selected.

3. In a filter, a grate .frame comprising a main. framework, aribassembly composed of spaced ribs spanning the framework and crossbars tying the ribs in position, the gnds of the ribs and the adjacentparts of the framework being provided lone with'tenons and the otherwith mortises to receive the tenons, said tenons and mortises formingthe only means for maintaining the framework and rib assembly inassembled relation, said tenons being of such length relative to thedepth of the mortises as to allow said rib assembly to be adjustedrelative to the framework in a direction longitudinally of the ribs to aposition to permit the, release of the-rib assembly from the framework..4. In a. filter a series of hollow frames-for containing brew grain andhaving an inlet and grate Vgrate frames, means for clamping the framestoframes arranged alternately with the hollow frames for containingwort, fabric enveloping the gether-to form marginaliiuid tight jointsbetween them, said fllter having an upper and a lower channel and thehollow frames being connected into` said channels, the upper channelbeing connected into some oithe grate frames at the top thereof and thelower channel being connected into the other grate frames at the bottomthereof, said grate frames having top and bottom outlets and means forcontrolling said outlets.

5. In a filter a series of hollow frames for containing brew grain andhaving an inlet and grate frames arranged alternately with the hollowlframes for containing wort, fabric enveloping thel grate frames, meansfor clamping the frames together to form marginal fluid tight jointsbetween them, said filter having an upper and a lower thereof and thelower channel being connected and mortise structures for mounting therib as-` sembly in ,the framework, the tenons at one end of the ribassembly being of such lengthrelative to the depth of the correspondingmortises as to permit said ribsto be adjusted longitudinally'as a unitto a position to permit the other tenons to be released from the mortise-to permit the release of the rib assembly from the framework.

'1. A filter having a filter chamber therein provided with upper andlower water channels, series of lter frames and hollow frames enclosingand forming said chamber, and some of said filter frames being connectedinto one of said channels, and other of said lter frames being connectedinto the other channel, the filter frames connected with one channelbeing arranged alternatively with respect to those connected into theother channel, lterng fabric between the lter frames and hollow frames,an inlet watefpipe connected Ainto said channels, means for deliveringmash into the hollow frames from above, said lter -having an airchannel, means controlling the connected with one channel being arrangedalternatively with respect to those connected intol the other channel,ltering means between the ltering frames and hollow frames, an inletwater pipe connected into said channels, means for delivering mashintothe hollow frames from above, means controlling the water channelswhereby some of the frames-may be isolated Afrom said water pipe, therebeing a collecting' channel arranged to collect the filtered liquid andmeans for controlling said collecting channel.\

, PAUL MEURA.

